Malone Is Fined for Hard Foul

Karl Malone was fined $7,500 by the NBA on Monday for running over guard Darrick Martin of the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, a flagrant foul he compared to a pitcher’s protecting his hitters.

“I’m not going to let you hurt a teammate of mine,” Malone said.

With 2:31 remaining in an 89-71 loss in Minnesota, Martin set a pick near the top of the key and Malone knocked him down with his shoulder. Malone was called for the flagrant foul and ejected.

NBA rules state that a player is subject to a one-game suspension if he amasses more than three flagrant-foul points in postseason play.

Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak appealed the fine and the flagrant foul to NBA Senior Vice President Stu Jackson, but the appeals were denied.

Many Lakers, including Malone, said Laker guard Derek Fisher had been manhandled by Timberwolves Latrell Sprewell and Wally Szczerbiak earlier in the game. Fisher ran into an open-floor pick by Sprewell and tangled briefly with Szczerbiak in a series that grew tense in Game 2.

Fisher arrived at practice Monday with a swollen, bruised eye and a grim demeanor, and Malone had no regrets.

“Some people would lie right now,” he said before the fine was announced. “I didn’t try to go around him. It’ll probably cost me something. So be it.”

In his first season with the Lakers, Malone was suspended for a game without pay when the league said his elbow to the mouth of Dallas Maverick guard Steve Nash during a game Dec. 4 was excessive.

Laker Coach Phil Jackson said he feared the possibility of a suspension later in the playoffs, were Malone to compile more flagrant-foul points.

“It was unnecessary, perhaps, putting himself in jeopardy of losing a game,” Jackson.

Jackson also called for game officials to enforce rules on moving picks and back picks, saying the Timberwolves had not complied in some cases and that noncompliance in part led to seven technical fouls called in the fourth quarter.

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Though they were called for eight fewer fouls than the Timberwolves and shot 10 more free throws, the Lakers were unhappy with the officiating in Game 2.

Among their issues: Kevin Garnett has been called for two fouls in the series, both in the final minute of Game 1, those arguably committed intentionally as the Timberwolves strained to catch up.

“He is the MVP of the league,” Malone said. “I think he’s played five or six quarters without a foul. You can get into a nice rhythm like that.”

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The Lakers said fans should use tickets marked “C1” for tonight’s game and “C2” for Thursday night’s Game 4.